Public Safety Debate Takes The Limelight

March 3, 1985|By Kelly Leon, Staff Writer

MARGATE — About 60 Oakland Hills residents turned out for a candidates night Thursday, and a majority, including the president of the Homeowners Association, gave rousing support to the city`s proposed public safety department.

Public safety, the issue that has dominated this city`s election, would combine duties of police officers and firefighters who choose to cross-train but would retain separate departments.

At the beginning of the meeting, candidates were given five minutes to present their backgrounds and goals to the audience. Only three mentioned public safety.

But when the meeting was opened for questions, candidates spent approximately an hour discussing the issue.

Candidates Todd Angier, Robert Franklin and Commissioner David McLain, all of whom had said they were against implementing the concept, were asked by one resident, ``Why are your opinions greater than the city manager, the mayor and the other commissioners?``

Last November, city commissioners voted 4-1, with McLean casting the lone no vote, to adopt the concept.

``I don`t feel that the commission has shown that the quality of departments will remain the same if they cross train,`` Angier said.

Franklin said he believes the city should have stuck to its original concept of totally integrating the two departments, which would have required a change in the charter and a vote by the people.

McLean, who calls himself the voice of the people, said at least 80 percent of city residents have told him they are against the concept.

Bill Katzberg, of the 5300 block of Southwest Seventh Court, called the anti- public safety position ``lots of baloney.``

He said public safety is ``an idea whose time has come.`` While his neighbors applauded, Katzberg added, ``Don`t ask me to vote on this. I know nothing about it. Let`s give it a shot.``

Leo Sokolski, president of the Oakland Hills Homeowners Association, told members he also believes the concept should be tried.

Candidate Joseph Varsallone said he is against the public safety concept because he is satisfied with the present service provided by the fire and police departments.

Candidates Pete Pompura and Vice Mayor Mitch Anton both said they favor the public safety concept.

Pompura called it a ``more effective and efficient use of all personnel within the city.``

Anton, a member of the commission when it voted to adopt the concept, said the people in the city don`t know enough about the issue to vote on it.